Chapter 172: Practice Participation Invitation [side Nozomi Tachibana]
Today is finally the day of the practice participation invitation♪
A holiday that falls at the start of Golden Week—today is the day!
Even though it's a day off, I put on my uniform and I'm about to head out!
I'm perfectly prepared with nothing forgotten! And yet, right?
Sho: "...Wait a sec?"
My older brother, who always tells me to get going early, stops me just as I'm about to dash out the door.
...My older brother is a worrywart, you know?
I really think doing things at my own pace but early is best for this kind of stuff.
If you're worried, why not just come along?
Sho: "You fool. The supervising teacher is here, you know?"
The person my older brother pointed at, opening the front door and coming in, was...Kousuke-kun?!
Why?!
Sho: "I'm counting on you, Kousuke."
Kousuke: "...Okay."
I hurriedly get my bike ready and hop on.
While riding alongside Kousuke-kun, I ask him why he came.
Kousuke: "...Well, because I was worried, obviously? Both your older brother and I are worried about you, Nozomi."
(What did he say? My older brother?)
Even as I'm thinking that, I'm so happy that I can't stop smiling, and I pedal my bike briskly to Shinkawa Station, which takes about twelve or thirteen minutes.
Kousuke: "Kashii-san said she doesn't ride a bike because her legs stick out and it's unladylike."
"Ah—she said she only wears pants when she rides a bike."
With all the chatting, we got there in no time.
Before I knew it, we arrived at Shinkawa Station.
Kousuke: "...So, you know? Personality really matters, so answer properly, okay? And be sure to mind your manners and respond clearly, got it? Absolutely no causing trouble, okay?"
"Okaaay♪"
Kousuke: "...Do you really get it? I'm worried. Absolutely no fights, violence, or incidents, got it?"
"I get it!"
My older brother and Kousuke-kun sure are worrywarts, huh?
I really am loved, aren't I? I'm not going to cause any incidents or anything, okay?
When we get to Shinkawa Station, I look so out of place compared to the high schoolers who just breeze through the gates with their commuter passes, while I, a middle schooler, have to buy a ticket to get in.
Kousuke-kun waits for me just past the ticket gate, walking beside me while explaining today's events and everything else... Doesn't it feel kind of like a boyfriend waiting for his girlfriend?
I kind of like it.
My little heart is pounding...!
What if...just what if?
What if I get into Hokusho High School as a scholarship student?
The time we overlap would only be for a year, but...
Could we go to school together every day?
Today I'm just the little sister, but...maybe?
If we could go to school together every day...wouldn't that be wonderful?
"...Kousuke-kun...where do you get on?"
The people scattered around the platform are pretty spaced out.
Is there a good place to get on, I wonder?
It'd be a roundabout trip to come pick me up at home, so we'd probably meet at the station or on the platform, right?
Just imagining that scene makes my heart flutter...! I love it!
Tanaka: "...Right about here is close to the terminal station's ticket gate, so I use it a lot, you know? Long time no see, Nozomi-chan?"
"Whoa?!"
It's Tanaka-kun?!
Out of all my older brother's friends, Tanaka-kun is the one with the least presence,
Like, sometimes when Kousuke-kun comes over, I'll look at the table, think there's a lot of tea, and then realize Tanaka-kun's there! It's always a surprise.
The snacks he gives me are usually chocolates.
I'm so surprised,
"Tanaka-kun? How long have you been here?"
Tanaka-kun laughs, going "Eheh!"
Tanaka: "We met up at the ticket gate, didn't we?"
he says, so I tilt my head.
Huh? Was Tanaka-kun already here back when I was getting all fluttery about feeling like a boyfriend waiting for his girlfriend?
It's not like Tanaka-kun did anything wrong, and I don't dislike him or anything.
But still, give me back my just-the-two-of-us atmosphere!
Thinking that, I beg Tanaka-kun for a snack.
...All my older brother's friends give me snacks☆
Kousuke: "...Nozomi? Tanaka-kun is older than you, right? How about a greeting?"
Kousuke-kun is so strict about this kind of thing!
He's polite himself, but if someone like Narumi-chan talks casually, it really bothers him.
...Tanaka-kun...he always appears out of nowhere like a ninja, and today he's getting in the way—!
So, to Tanaka-kun, I greet him...?
"Domo, Tanaka-san. Tachibana Nozomi desu."
When I greet him with a blank expression, Tanaka-kun's face kind of twitches,
Tanaka: "Nozomi-chan? You sometimes call me a ninja, but isn't that the greeting of a character who kills ninjas?"
* See: Ninja Slayer.
"Greetings are important, it's written in the Kojiki."
Tanaka-kun laughs as he tries to smooth things over with Kousuke-kun, saying, "Well, that's just Nozomi-chan for you,"
Tanaka: "If you become our underclassman, maybe we could go to school together like this every day for a year?"
"Ninjas must be destroyed."
He said it! The thing I wanted to say to Kousuke-kun today! Tanaka-kun beat me to it! Ninjas must not be forgiven!
Bonk! Kousuke-kun's karate chop lands on the top of my head.
Kousuke: "Nozomi? Tanaka-kun is your senior, and a friend of mine and Sho, you know?"
"I'm sorry. I got carried away."
In a manga, this would be where you say 'karma'.
* Karma.
Once we get off at the terminal station, it's about ten minutes to Hokusho High School!
It's beautiful and big!
Kousuke: "If anything happens, just tell me, okay? I'll be here until after lunch."
Tanaka: "I'll be here too, in the film club!"
I have to write my name in something like a visitor's log by the entrance, get something like an entry pass, and pin it to my chest.
Kousuke-kun heads to the gymnasium, Tanaka-kun to the clubroom building.
I head to the tennis club's indoor practice facility, get ready, and then it'll be time to join practice, I think.
I'm pretty sure it was this way?
...It's this way, right? Am I okay?
Hokusho High School is beautiful and spacious.
Since it's a holiday, the crowded area is pretty empty and it makes me anxious...!
??: "Huh? There's a cute girl here? Where did you wander in from, little princess?"
A guy with a fresh-looking, handsome-ish face starts talking to me?
...I don't like this person...
??: "Would you like me to show you around, princess?"
Now I get it.
He's looking at me, but not really seeing me.
He just saw a cute girl who looked lost, started talking in a show-offy way to get my attention, and maybe, just maybe, score some points with me!
"I'm fine, domo."
??: "Wait, aren't you here for the tennis club's practice invitation? I'm a second-yea—"
I shook him off in an instant! This guy! Did he just grab my arm?!
Glance, glance?
Luckily, there's nobody around...?
I've totally snapped...
Even if it was only in a small voice! My fighting spirit, another swing!!
"Trash Dragon Flash!!!"